Some days the thoughts get too heavy. The burden of your mind physically weighing you down has become overwhelming. You can’t trust your mind, your thoughts, your friends, your family, nobody. A ring of isolation has formed and it’ll be impossible to penetrate it. You think no one sees you, that no one cares or notices. That just may very well be.
Why the clamor for wanting to be noticed and cared for? What will that bring to your life? Will it somehow vastly improve your quality of life?
And with what friends? The ones who said they’d be with you no matter what but as soon as life for complicated they abandoned you and labeled you the problem. Is it worth the trouble? Are you worth the trouble? Is any of this worth the trouble?
Who would miss you?
As you struggle for an answer you finally take that step over the edge. With your eyes shut tight and body loose, you’re anticipating the pain of the impact when your body hits the water.
But it never comes.
Instead you’re wrapped up in a black whip emitting dark green light gently lifts you up and pulls you into unfamiliar arms. The two of you land with a small crash back on land causing the dam to finally break. Your shoulders shake violently as sobs rock through you. Secure and supportive arms remain fast around you. A small crowd begins to form around you from the spectacle of a hero being in their midst.
There it is again. That feeling, that urge to drown and disappear.
“Please don’t crowd! Give us some space.”
His gentle yet commanding voice shakes you back to reality. As your eyes slowly flutter open, you’re met with the kindest and softest set of freckles and green irises. “M-Midoriya-“
He chuckles softly. “I can’t let my teacher’s assistant’s struggles go by the wayside. I’ve been following you after you called in sick for a third time in a month.” His breathing is calm as he places you gently on the ground, his hand in yours.
You were in the common room with Tsu as you were showing her something on your phone when he walked in with her...
Walking in laughing and smiling, Jiro pushed Denki as they sat next to you and Tsu.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey"
*ribbit*
"Y/n is that a new ____ shirt?"
Denki asked you as he leaned closer to you and you nodded.
"Yeah I just got it yesterday!"
"Ugh I have to get me one, but I'm like toats broke"
"Kaminari, it's like every second you buy ___ merch"
Jiro says as she got up with Tsu as she asked her if she can help her with something, and Tsu agreed leaving Denki with you.
"So anything planned for Valentine's?"
Denki asked
"Nothing much, you?"
"Well had something planned for someone special"
"Jiro?"
"Huh! No!"
You looked at denki surprised.
"Really not jiro?"
"Well no, she's just a friend"
"Really, nearly everyone thought you two were together.''
"Really? Nah I don't see her like that, hey we should go to ___'s concert together someday!"
"Yes omg I've been dying to go!"
Complete forgetting about the hurt in your heart when seeing him with jiro, now replaced with warmth. Talking for what seemed like hours, but edventually, you looked at him and asked.
"Hey, can I get your insta? I haven't gotten yours out of everyone here!"
"Oh yeah"
Exchanging Instagrams, you felt butterflies form in your stomach, looking at him to find him already looking at you.
"So, the 19 of this month they have a concert, I'll pick you up at 8, don't worry about the ticket I'm paying"
He says as he buys your ticket for you.
•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•☆°•
It's the day of the concert and your dressed head to toe in ___'s merch as you stepped outside sewing him pull up in his motorcycle.
"Hey cutie, need a ride"
"A real charmer.."
"Come on"
Getting onto his bike, he gives you a spare helmet as he starts up the bike, holding onto his waist he drives off. The streets buzzing with cars and people, but all you could do is lean against him, your head on his back, his hand moving to yours every time you two stopped at a red light, and pulling you closer when he felt you slipping.
"Cutie you good back there?"
"Yeah"
"Good, we're almost there"
"Hmm~ yeah"
Arriving at the concert, he hopped off the bike offering his hand to you as he helped you off.
"Ready?"
"Born ready"
"Hell yeah"
•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•☆°•
'But everything you do makes my heart race'
'I can't even think straight'
'Is this just a game to you?'
'Reruns every night'
'It's always the same fight'
'And I think you should know'
Turning to you, he pulled you closer by your waist, but you were too busy screaming your heart out to the song to notice.
'I hate your touch, I hate your mouth'
'No I dont'
'I can't stand every single word that falls out'
'Never'
'But you're all that I've been dreaming of'
'All the time'
'This is not another song about love'
'But it is for me'
'I hate your voice, I hate your lips'
'I hate how bad I wanna steal your kiss'
In that moment, he turned to you. When did his face get so close? Leaning in, you both caught each others eyes.
"Denki?"
"Yeah"
"What are you-"
'But you're all that I've been dreaming of'
'This is not another song about love'
Your lips came together, softly gently, lovingly as he pulled your waist closer with one hand and the other hand hailed the back of your neck. The background faded, just the two of you, holding each other. Together...
Pulling away for a breath, you leaned into him as you both turned back to the concert, screaming in union to the song. But with every part you felt related to you both turned to each other.
•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•°☆°•☆°•
The night ride back was a reassuring one to say the least, stepping up to your house was difficult because you didn't want to say goodbye.
"Hey Y/n...can I stay over?"
"Denki..."
Turning around you were face to face with him as he pulled you into another kiss.
"Please baby"
"Yeah... yeah"
Pulling him into your house, closing the door behind him, and pulling him into the bedroom you two knew, this night was something completely different than any other nights together. It was a night of confessing and finally being together.
Summary: It seems obvious that Bakugo has a thing for you, or is it?
Word Count: 1,500+
You knew of Katuski Bakugo since middle school, he was his own little superstar- athletic, smart, and a smart ass. You never talked to him in middle school because he always seemed preoccupied, and I don’t mean like his head in the books; there was a look of determination on his face that said he was ready for his career.
In high school, you became friends- close even. It was all thanks to Denki’s crush on you that you associated with the “Baku Squad”. Bakugo was bitchy to say the least, hot-tempered and cruel- he was like that to everyone. One day, things shifted- it was small,l but Mina realized and pointed out that he had a soft spot for you. It started with a water bottle. During your training session, you forgot your water bottle in the dorm. Usually, Bakugo would yell at Kirishima or Denki or remain neutral, but the interaction started that way, and he offered to share his water bottle. Now, this is weird since Bakugo was a health freak, and yes, you were air-sipping, but again, it was odd- no one else got that treatment.
It was a snowball effect, Bakugo saving you a seat sometimes, holding your bag, anything chivalrous. Mina told you flat out, “I think he likes you, y/n!” You had an overwhelming crush on this boy for years; it seemed like the stars had finally aligned. It took a month, but Pinky made you muster up the courage to confess.
You texted him, “We need to talk.”
Bakugo responded, “Sure, meet in two.”
You see, Bakugo was straight to the point, no bull shit. That text message sent a mental alarm that something was wrong. You, on the other hand, were freaking out. YOU DIDN’T EVEN PLAN THE CONFESSION. You were terrified that they might ruin the friendship. You met outside the dorm, and he stood there, puzzled.
“What do we need to talk about?”- Bakugo
“Before we start that, I need you to promise me one thing.””I need you to promise this will not affect our friendship, our relationships with others, or how we interact. I know it is a big ask, but I am begging you.”-Y/N
“I can’t promise all that, but I will try.”- Bakugo
“Pinky swear” as you raised your pinky.
“Y/N, we are not five, you don’t trust me enough?”
“Please,e Katsuki.”
Out of frustration or pity, Bakugo raises his pinky and promises. “So, you killed someone finally? Do I have to hide a body?”
“Bakugo…” You pause, wondering whether to say you like him or ask if he likes you. “I like you… I liked you for a long time, actually, but I never made a move because you were so closed off. But, the past month, I noticed a shift in your behavior that makes me ask if you started catching feelings for me?”
There was a long moment of silence between the two of you; all you could hear was the breaths you were both taking. It felt like twenty minutes had passed before he started talking.
“Y/N, I don’t have romantic feelings for you. I am sorry if I led you on.” And Bakugo disappears into the night.
Heartbreak could not even describe this situation; there was the feeling of multiple sobs stuck in your throat, and your eyes were filled to the brim with water.
True to his word, Bakugo said nothing about the conversation to anyone. He still treated you the same, except that he stopped saving you a seat and holding your bag. But it wasn’t technically his fault; you were pulling away. It was second nature for you, a protection mechanism; you did not want to get your feelings high again.
Bakugo felt the shift in the air, in the environment, and in you. If he could go back to the past, he would punch himself before he gave the stone-cold line. Bakugo was never “a in my feelings” person; he was career-oriented- his goals came before having a significant other.
Mina went off on Bakugo, not to your knowledge, of how the fuck he would treat you that way. She pointed out every sign there was that Bakugo felt some sort of way about y/n.
“WHAT THE HELL YOU MEAN YOU DON’T LIKE Y/N ?!?!?!?!”
“Pinky, for the millionth time, I like her as a friend and nothing more.”
Mina realized Bakugo was denser than a brick. “Bakugo, do you like me aa s friend?”
“Kind of-” Mina stared at Bakugo. “Yes, pinky, you are my friend, I like you as a friend.”
“Are Kirishima, Sero, and Denki your friends?”
“Yes”
“So would you share your water bottle with us?”
“Tchh- no. I don’t want your germs all over my bottle.”
“If I had to go to the bathroom, would you hold my bag?”
“No- maybe if it was a purse with a lot of cash.”
“Would you escort Denki to recovery girl and stay by his side until he is given the clear?”
“No. Denki has been to recovery girl enough to know what to do.”
“Have you ever given any of us slack when we don’t pull our weight on the project?”
“No, you knew what we were signing up for.”
“If I fell asleep on the couch, would you throw a blanket on me or carry me up back to my dorm?”
“Uh, no, I usually wake everyone up.”
“If Sero wanted to try a dessert shop thirty minutes from campus, would you drive?”
“Hell no, sweets are bad for my figure.”
“Do you save seats at lunch for us?”
“NO, MINA, WHAT'S THE POINT OF THESE MILLION QUESTIONS?” Bakugo was pissed at this point. Hands clenched.
Mina breathes and steps back. “Normally, you would never do these tasks for us, your friends. You do all these tasks for Y/N, despite the logic that says no. Who can blame anyone for thinking you liked her more than a friend?”
That is when it hits him- he had a fucken big crush on Y/N. He always liked you; it was just that his intentions had shifted.
“Fuck, I like Y/N, and I blew it.”
“Yeah,h you did, Sparky. Now what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know, she has become distant-”
“So talk to her.”
112:34 am “We need to talk.”- Bakugo
12:35 am: “Sure.”- Y/N12:40 amm: “Come to my room.”- Bakugo
You walked to Bakugo’s room in your sleepwear- shorts and a t-shirt- with a pint of ice cream. He didn’t interrupt anything in particular- you were doomscrolling on your phone to escape your feelings. At the first knock, he opens the door, as if he has been waiting right beside the entire time.
He motions you to si;, you d,oinn his desk chair. He sits on the bed.
“Y/N- I need you to hear me out.”
“Okay?” as you continue to eat your ice cream- trying to seem unbothered.
“I realized, I like you, not just as a friend but more. I knew I was treating you special compared to my other friends, but I didn’t know why. There was a gradual shift in my behavior, so I cannot tell when my feelings changed. I am sorry that I was dismissive about the conversation before.”
You paused mid-pint as Bakugo confessed he liked you, in a Human Resources tone. You were ready to talk, but it looked like he had more on his mind.
“I pushed away because for the majority of my life I was wired to think career- to be the best prohero, to get high marks, to succeed. I thought my life was supposed to be perfect before I let anyone in, but you- you opened my eyes. I lowered so much of my guard when I was around you, and I didn’t even realize it.”
“Bakugo, in any relationship, people are supposed to grow together, to support one another. I don’t want to wait for you to become this super person before dating you. I have liked you for who you were since the beginning, and I still like you.”- You thought Bakugo was shooting you down again, asking you to wait until everything was stable before you started becoming more than friends. But, you never wanted that- there was no such thing as right timing,
“Y/N, I am not asking you to wait for me. I am asking you to be mine.”
“What?”
“I- I, listen, I don’t know how to be the best boyfriend because I was never a boyfriend. I am scared of relationships- terrified- I don’t want to mess anything up with you because you are special to me. I can’t promise I will be the best boyfriend, but I will try- and if we try, it has to be slow, like tortoise slow. I know you are not a book or a restaurant that can only be reserved. I want you and-and-and… I don’t want the opportunity to be snatched away again or beg to some universe that another one comes when it is time.””Y/N, do you still want me?”
You pause, giving some form of payback from the last conversation, “Yes, Katsuki, I still want you. Every part of you- the ugly, the bitchy, and the beautiful.”
Imagine being Bakugo’s S/O in the final battle and you’re both killed at the same time, lying together. It’s a horrific sight, even more disturbing when your broken bodies are still holding hands, like you two knew what would happen and wanted to stay together.
When Edgeshot realises he can bring you back to life, he also realises he can only do so for one.
Bakugo’s more powerful than you. Everyone knows it. And yet they still hesitate, because they also know Bakugo adores you. If you don’t come back, then there’s a chance his heart could give out from sheer grief alone.
But it’s a chance they have to take. Best Jeanist tries to move your body so Bakugo won’t see it and it can’t be Decayed, all the while mourning you. You’re still warm, your hand still reaching out for Bakugo. Most heroes are too busy to experience love, and some of them don’t even know what a true love feels like. Best Jeanist thinks you and Bakugo have taught him what it is from the day you two came into his hero agency. He recalls the Sports Festival commentary, telling everyone about how the pair of you were always side by side ever since Bakugo asked you out at age 10, on the same day your elementary class learnt about what girlfriends and boyfriends were.
Seven years is what you and Bakugo had together. That’s more than what most adult relationships have, and yet it’s too little for the pair of you.
Best Jeanist turns one last time so you can see Bakugo’s body one last time. So Bakugo can see you too, in a way. So you can see his heart only beat for you. Jeanist only hopes it can continue beating now yours has stopped.
Bakugo wakes up in the hospital after everything. Now the fight response isn’t activated, he can focus on you. But you’re not in the room. Shit, you must’ve been hurt more than he thought.
Mitsuki gasps as he wakes up. So his parents are here.
“Hag,” he gets out, “which room is Y/N in?” He moves to sit up despite the way his father pleads for him not to yet. Bakugo doesn’t give a shit. He’ll crawl to your room by his fingertips if he has to.
“Katsuki,” his mother begins. Bakugo stares at her and that’s when Mitsuki breaks, crying for you. Crying for the girl she’d always assumed to be her daughter in law one day.
Something cold runs through Bakugo. “Where’s Y/N? Is it bad? Is… is she in a coma?”
Masaru puts his hand on Bakugo’s shoulder. “They tried everything they could. She was gone almost immediately. You nearly went with her.” Nearly. Bakugo had stayed. You’d left. That didn’t make sense. You two never went anywhere without each other. Why would he stay?
The heart monitor starts beeping at an alarming rate as he starts to work out what happened. Shigaraki had lunged for him. You’d moved in seconds after he’d been hit, exposing yourself too.
“No,” he says. “No. Fucking funny joke.” He looks at Mitsuki. “Hag, where is she? Hag. Mom.”
Mitsuki shakes her head. “She didn’t make it, Katsuki. Like Masaru said, they tried everything.”
No. No, they didn’t. If he’d come back, why couldn’t you? You wanted to be a hero too. You had plans - the two of you had plans. You were already thinking of your future together, and charted a rota for who’d be doing hero work on each day of the week after you two had children.
“No!” Bakugo yells despite the pain it causes. “No. She’s got you two in on it. She’s gonna walk through the door in a minute, and prove you two wrong. She’s… She’s gonna… She’s…”
His mother never cries for anyone outside the family. She’d accepted you as her daughter years ago. Now Mitsuki is sobbing, wrapping her arms around him.
“I’m sorry, baby. She tried so hard. But you held her. She wasn’t scared because she had you.” She doesn’t know that. Who’s to say you weren’t terrified out of your mind? Or even worse: you felt safe until Bakugo was brought back and ripped away from you. Now you’re somewhere he can’t follow you.
Bakugo’s body feels numb as his parents try to comfort him. He can hear his heartbeat. A heart that shouldn’t be beating. It should be yours that he can hear. His mind flashes to the times you snuck into each other’s dorms, times so often that Aizawa had to have known and just given up on separating you, and the way you’d hold each other if you had nightmares. He can hear your heartbeat even now. It’s clearer to him than his own.
Only now it’s stopped forever.
Izuku wonders if Bakugo did stay dead in a way. At least, a small part of him died when you did. To the onlooker’s eye, he’s still the same, but Izuku grew up with the two of you. He knows that you two had that epic love only reserved for stories.
It’s only a story now anyway.
It’s been eight years since you left. He and Bakugo visit each anniversary of your death day, but he knows Bakugo goes most days. After a tiring patrol when he needs someone to talk to, and on a weekend he has free, or just whenever he thinks you need him. His parents visit you too. Mitsuki called Izuku asking for help after she found Bakugo sat in the rain at your grave, unwilling to move. Because even though he hated the rain, you always made him dance with you in it.
Everyone from 1A is starting to settle down now. At each wedding, there’s an empty seat for you. Bakugo always sits next to it, a wedding band on his finger. He was going to ask you anyway. Izuku wouldn’t be surprised if you two had the ceremony planned out already.
Bakugo won’t move on, and Izuku knows it. His only love is his hero work, because you wouldn’t want him to wallow in pity for you.
Izuku does he think he sees you in the same way he sees Shigaraki. You’re always at Bakugo’s side. A ghost on the edge of things, not quite tangible and more like a distant daydream of summer and warmth and all things wonderful. But then, as all wonderful things must do, you’re gone again.
Izuku doesn’t think you’ve left entirely though. In the same way a piece of Bakugo stayed with you in the afterlife, a part of you stayed here with him. After all, you two proved it with your shared deaths: you two wanted to stay together.
When I get to the part in the angst where the other person is being a complete douche/saying something so heinous that I'd have to bitch slap someone irl
Where the descendant of a legendary quirk longs to rewrite history by becoming a hero. But in order to fulfill her dream, she must first face off against ghosts from her past and a growing attraction for the insufferable Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight.
Pairing: Katsuki Bakugou x fem!oc
Warnings: mature language
series masterlist + my masterlist
Mitsuki had been the first to notice, though it helped that Katsuki wasn't exactly subtle. He'd been out of the house more in recent months, always coming back hours later with less tension than before. Like some burden had been lifted off his back. He was always texting, too. Grumbling and making faces at the screen while he grumpily typed out a message.
A mother knows her child and lately her women's intuition was telling her that something was going on.
Her suspicions were all but confirmed once her son had returned from his internship. She'd gone through his luggage to wash his dirty laundry when she caught the sweet scent of blackberry, vanilla, and lilies. Women's perfume. She also found a glittery lipgloss smear on the cuff of his sweatshirt. Then, of course, there was the cherry blossom hat that he'd been wearing when he got home. The first night it was definitely white because she distinctly remembered thinking how out of character it was for him to wear such a thing. But a few days later when he returned home from "a hike," the hat was black and had remained that color ever since.
Could it be that her Katsuki was wearing a couples' hat? Her dream of grandchildren that she'd long thought was a lost cause now had renewed hope.
So, she set her plan in motion to confront him with the truth. Bringing up the subject to her son would only make him defensive and even moodier than usual. Heaven knows that boy didn't need anything else to brood about, which left only one other person for her to turn to. Someone whose knowledge of her son rivaled her own.
"Good afternoon, Auntie." Izuku greeted her with a shy smile. "It's been awhile."
"Come in, come in!" Mitsuki eagerly waved them inside. Inko entered the house a step behind carrying a covered dish. "I made dessert. I hope you're in the mood for strawberry shortcake."
"Oh, you know you didn't have to bring anything!" Masaru poked his head out of the kitchen wearing a frilly pink apron to say hello, rushing over to take the dish from Inko's hands. He returned to the kitchen to finish plating dinner.
"It was no trouble at all, really." Inko reassured the couple. The women had met back in their college days and hit it off immediately. It was a shame that their kids never learned to get along. They gathered around the dining table as Masaru announced that the food was ready. The green-haired woman looked around, noticing how unusually quiet it was around the house. No thumping of drums or slamming doors upstairs. "Where's Katsuki? Will he be joining us?"
"Oh, I doubt it. He's been so busy lately," Mitsuki shrugged dismissively. "But look who I'm telling! I'm sure Izuku here knows all about that." She winked. Izuku chuckled with a lost expression, confused by the insinuation. Mitsuki poured them each out a cup of tea before serving herself, making sure to claim the seat directly across from Izuku. "So, how's school?"
"Everyone has been really nice so far! UA is full of amazing people," the freckled boy beamed.
The Bakugou matriarch nodded along with a smile. "I bet."
Her husband walked in carrying a tray of dishes piled high with the most delicious looking food. He set down the tray and started placing steaming dishes in the center of the table. Mitsuki helped, patiently shooing away the Midoriyas as they offered to help dish out the meal. They all thanked him for the food before digging in. Mitsuki hardly touched her plate, her hands folded under her chin as she continued to pry information from the oblivious teenager across from her. "What about Katsuki? Does he have a lot of friends? He hasn't mentioned anyone to us and I worry that he might ostracize himself with that personality of his."
Izuku laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Uh, yeah. Quite a few, actually. They're really good for him."
"Anyone he's particularly close to?"
Masaru cleared his throat loudly from the head of the table, a silent warning to lighten up on her interrogation. She merely rolled her eyes playfully, leaning across the table. "Look, we know you're holding out on us, kiddo." She dropped the act, cutting straight to the chase. "So spill the beans already and save yourself the trouble."
Izuku fidgeted nervously. "Huh?"
"You know, kids are so secretive at this age. I said as much to Masaru the other day." The man in question simply nodded, silently chewing his food. "I'm honestly hurt that you hid something so important from me, Izuku." The ash blonde set her napkin down next to her plate. "I thought our families were closer than that."
"Izuku, what is she talking about?" Inko frowned.
The greenette immediately started sweating bullets. She knows. I don't know how she knows but she knows. She knows about One for All. How does she know? Did Kacchan tell her? Did she tell my mom? How much do they know? Do they know about All Might-
"So, just tell us her name and all will be forgiven." Mitsuki smiled innocently, tilting her head.
"Huh? Uh, name?" Midoriya blinked rapidly, his racing heartbeat slowly reverting back to normal. "I'm sorry... who are we talking about?"
"The brat's girlfriend, silly." She chuckled airily. "So, who's the unlucky girl?"
"Oh-" his shoulders slumped in relief... that is, until his brain registered what she'd just said. Izuku jolted in his seat like he'd been electrocuted by Kaminari's quirk. "Wait, WHAT? KACHAAN HAS A GIRLFRIEND?!" Masaru quietly snorted into his napkin, pretending to wipe his mouth. He was used to his wife's antics by now, but it was always fun to watch her devious mind at work.
"Ah, you didn't know either? So he hasn't made it official yet..." she sighed in disappointment, pursing her lips. "He's hopeless."
"I had no idea! Honest! I just thought they were close. Of course, they've been spending a lot of time together lately if that's anything to go by. I suppose things could've changed between them during the internships-!" He flinched once he snapped out of his rambling, noticing that Mitsuki had silently left her seat to stand next to his chair. Her expression was serene and friendly, but in her eye was the look of a predator with prey within its grasp.
"You know who I'm talking about, don't you?" She grasped his shoulders firmly, making the poor boy flinch as he realized too late that he'd fallen right into her trap. "Don't be shy, Izuku. Spit it out!" She kneeled next to his chair. "What's her name? Is she pretty? She must be if she caught that brat's attention."
"...maybe?" Then Izuku went into panic mode, jolting once again much to Mitsuki's amusement. "No, WAIT! I didn't mean..." Steam spewed from his ears as he waved his hands around frantically. "Of course she's pretty! She's really, really pretty! I'm just not exactly sure it's her-?"
The blonde walked through the archway into the living room and lifted the TV remote. With the click of a button, the black screen across the room woke up from standby mode to show a paused streaming of this year's Sports Festival. Mitsuki pressed play, perching herself on the arm of the couch. She glanced over her shoulder at the boy. "You know, I didn't think you'd volunteer as much information as you did. I thought it would take more pressing for you to crack, but you already confirmed that they interned together without me even having to ask. I'd already suspected as much knowing his style. That means whoever this girl is, she's a hero course student." As if on cue, the camera panned to class 1-A and B. "You've already whittled it down for me, Izuku. You might as well give up the name."
The emerald-eyed boy lost all color in his face. "N-n-no! I couldn't-!"
"I see, I see," she cooed, amused by his jitters. "You don't have to say anything if you feel uncomfortable, Izuku. Just signal to me when she's on the screen, okay?"
"Mitsuki..." Inko sweatdropped. "Isn't this a little...?"
The ash blonde hummed, tapping her chin with the remote as she watched her son exchange a few words with an attractive, sunset-haired girl before dragging her off to find more teammates. It was odd that her son actively sought out someone to join his team rather than let them come to him. She'd, of course, watched the Festival live, but playing it back made it easier to spot things she might've missed before. She shrugged, deducing that her son was simply interested in the girl's quirk.
Izuku could feel the sweat running down his face like a faucet. "Auntie-"
"SHH! Wait a minute." The ash blonde abandoned her spot to crouch in front of the television, her nose nearly touching the screen as she rewound the program. All three rewatched the clip with unblinking eyes. Katsuki could be seen with the rest of his cavalry group, yelling at the team of class B students as they duked it out before the timer ran out. Mitsuki pointed a manicured finger. "There."
"I don't see anything, dear." Izuku had to agree with his mother. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary about Katsuki acting like a feral cat.
The blonde woman shushed them, rewinding the recording once again. "Watch." She played the clip in slow motion, tracking her son with her finger so they wouldn't miss whatever tiny detail she'd seen. For a brief moment caught on tape, Katsuki leaned in to whisper something in the girl's ear, his hand on the back of her neck. They wore identical wicked smirks as they launched their final attack on Monoma's team.
The girl's name? Sana Sakano.
Mitsuki slowly turned her head towards Izuku, the poor boy looking ready to melt into the floorboards. He flinched at the sight of her Cheshire grin. "Izuku," she sang, slinking back towards the table like a cat with a canary in its maw. "Tell me everything you know about my future daughter-in-law."
Izuku stumbled out of his seat, shaking his head vehemently as he held his hands up in surrender. "Auntie! I-I really don't-"
The front door unlocking caught their attention as Katsuki waltzed in wearing a gray and black flannel, jeans, and a ghost of a smile. He seemed to be in good mood until he locked eyes with Izuku Midoriya. The blonde scrunched his nose at the sight of his sworn enemy in his home. "What the hell is he doing here?"
Mitsuki couldn't help the squeal that left her lips as she ran to embrace her son. He struggled against her, his arms pinned to his sides. "Get off of me, woman!" He hissed. Mitsuki ignored his protests, only squeezing him tighter. It was faint, but she still caught the hint of that same perfume on his clothes every now and then. Ah, the sweet scent of first love. She grinned, closing her eyes and tuning out his loud complaints as she nuzzled into his neck with a joyous laugh.
Finally. Her Katsuki was finally experiencing what it was like to be a normal teenager. For so long he'd been living like a machine, pushing himself to the brink in order to get stronger. Now, he was actually slowing down to enjoy time with friends and fall in love. She couldn't be happier.
𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓
Mitsuki wasn't expecting to find a red-and-white haired boy on her porch at eight o'clock in the morning. The boy blinked attractively her with possibly the emptiest expression she'd ever seen. "Oh? Hello. Are you one of Katsuki's friends?"
"Yes."
She sweatdropped, her smile caught between amusement and confusion once she realized that he was done speaking. "Alright then," she recomposed herself. "Well, Katsuki went with my husband to run some errands, but I expect them back soon. Why don't you come inside to wait?" The heterochromatic teen nodded, politely thanking her as he passed. She guided him towards the living room and the two sat on the couch in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes while the boy took in the room. The family photos on the walls, the eclectic pieces of art and furniture that shouldn't have worked together, but somehow meshed perfectly. "I didn't get your name earlier."
"Shoto Todoroki."
The woman hummed, finding him vaguely familiar. Probably from the amount of times she'd rewatched the Sports Festival looking for clues. After the cavalry battle moment, she hadn't seen her son or Sana interact for the rest of the competition and it was incredibly frustrating. "I'm Mitsuki." They both glanced around the room, avoiding eye contact. "Are you excited for the upcoming camping trip, Todoroki?"
"Not particularly."
...Well, this is awkward. Mitsuki sweatdropped, wishing her son would hurry home soon. "So, are you and the brat close?" She tried again.
Shoto was dense sometimes, but even he knew who she was referring to. "That's why I'm here, actually. Midoriya gave me this address. I'm hoping to get to know Bakugou better over the break."
"Oh?" She tried to hide her laughter. "Well that's a first. Why's that?"
Shoto cocked his head. "Well, Ashido said that we should get along for Sana's sake. We're..." he frowned, staring intensely at the rug as he searched his brain for the unfamiliar term she'd used. "Bros-in-law." He hesitantly mimed finger quotes.
It was as though the heavens split to cast a radiant beam of light on the Bakugou matriarch. She had stars in her eyes as she leaned in conspiratorially. "Sana Sakano?" The boy nodded. Mitsuki sucked in a sharp breath. "You... know Sana?" He hummed in agreement. Mitsuki gathered his hands in hers in a flash and squeezed. Her face nearly split in two from the wide grin she wore. Shoto could've sworn cheery blossom perals were falling in slow motion around her as he took in her blissful expression. "Todoroki, fate must've brought you here today!"
"Actually, it was a bus-"
"You're hilarious!" She swatted at him playfully, scooting closer. "Now, be a dear and tell me all about this Sana."
Shoto frowned. "What about her?"
"Likes, dislikes. Birthday? What's her favorite dish? Flowers? Sweets? Oh, oh!" Mitsuki wiggled in place excitedly, clasping her hands under her chin. "Better yet, do you know her jewelry preferences?"
"I don't know if I should-" the dual-haired teen averted his gaze.
Mitsuki lightly pushed him. "Don't be so shy, kid! We're all friends here, aren't we?" She batted her eyelashes innocently. "Besides, you came over to get close to my son, right? What better way to bond than by helping him win over the girl he likes?"
Shoto contemplated her words. "I guess, but..." his blank face gave nothing away as he stared her down. "Bakugou isn't here to hear any of it."
Mitsuki primly nodded, eyes closed in a serene expression. She expected him to resist at first. "Yes, but I'm more than capable of passing on any information you share. I'm a woman, Todoroki, and Katsuki's approach to things could use a, uh... softer touch. I'm well aware that my son needs all the help he can get when it comes to matters of the heart."
"I don't know..."
She was losing him. She had to think fast. "Stay for lunch." She invited. "As a thank you for being such a caring friend to my Katsuki. He's really changed since starting at U.A. I can tell you're good for him. You know, you're the first friend he's had over in years!" Shoto smiled shyly, happy that she'd acknowledged their friendship even if Katsuki hadn't. They were friends despite the blonde's claims. His classmates (and now even Mitsuki Bakugou herself) said so. Why would they lie to him about such a thing? They wouldn't.
So, he told her everything. What Sana liked, what she didn't. He shared the little moments he'd noticed between the two that they probably weren't even aware of. Like, how they moved almost in sync, always tuned in to the other like partnered dance.
Mitsuki listened attentively, her eyes glistening with unshed tears of relief that maybe, just maybe, she'd gotten something right with her delinquent child after all. He never had a kind word to say to anyone, nor did he get enjoyment out of things like other kids his age. He rarely smiled since gaining his quirk and it weighed on her and Masaru terribly. But according to the young man across from her, Katsuki wasn't incapable of happiness like she'd feared. He'd just needed the right person to bring it out.
Mitsuki placed her hand on Shoto's and squeezed, interrupting him mid sentence. She gave him a wobbly smile as crystalline tears slipped down her youthful cheeks. "Thank you, Todoroki, for telling me this. You've made me a very happy mom."
The gesture, her tone of voice... it was so maternal that it gave the boy pause. He soaked in her warm gaze, her soft touch, and his lips upturned into a shy, gentle smile. Bakugou was a lucky guy to have such a loving mother. Shoto had the sudden urge to visit the hospital soon and have tea with Rei. "Not too long ago, I swore to be a better friend to the people I care about. This is me keeping that promise."
"You're a good boy, Todoroki. That brat doesn't deserve you."
Todoroki shook his head with furrowed brows. "Actually, ma'am, I'm grateful for Bakugou. He's helped me a lot this semester and I don't think he even realized."
She hummed, feeling an emotional knot in her throat again. She swiftly wiped beneath her eyes before standing abruptly, dusting her lap off. "I expect they'll be back any minute now. I should get started on lunch. Would you like to stay, Todoroki?"
He nodded, also standing. "If it's not a bother?"
"Nonsense!" She waved him off. "You're welcome here anytime."
When Katsuki and his father walked in soon after with their arms full of fabric for their upcoming winter collection, they found the woman chopping vegetables in the kitchen with a dual-haired boy in a frilly apron and flour on his cheek.
"WHAT THE HELL?"
Shoto lifted a hand in greeting, still holding the knife. "Hello, Bakugou."
"You stalking me, Icy Hot? How the hell do you know where I live, you damn freak?!" Katsuki's expression morphed into cold rage. Deku. (At that very moment, a greenette down the street got full body chills, dropping the cereal bowl he'd been rinsing in the sink. Kacchan...?)
"We're back!" Masaru appeared behind his son. "And who might this be?"
"Shoto Todoroki," the boy introduced himself robotically.
Bakugou scoffed, rolling his eyes. Mitsuki gave her son a withering look before turning around to beam at Shoto. "He's one of Katsuki's new friends." Shoto nodded.
"Oi! Quit spewing lies. We're not friends!" The ash blonde leaned around his mother to point threateningly at Todoroki. Mitsuki smacked him in the back of the head sternly with her tongs.
"Don't be rude to our guest!" She huffed, taking a deep, calming breathe and exhaling out of her nose. "Go wash your hands. The food is nearly done."
𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓 . 𖤓
Katsuki was hiding out in the garage later that night banging on the drums. His parents had converted the place into a mini studio, complete with soundproof walls and a couple of amps. An old sofa was shoved to the side across from a tiny television with a dusty game console. Mitsuki lingered in the doorway, her son unaware of her presence thanks to the noise-canceling headphones he wore. He squeezed his eyes shut in concentration as he jammed out to whatever song was in his head. She slowly approached, gently tapping him on the shoulder to gain his attention.
Katsuki dragged his headphones down to hang around his neck. "What?"
"Do you have everything packed for the trip? We can go to the mall tomorrow if you need a few last minute items."
The boy tilted his head to observe her suspiciously. "We go camping all the time. I've got everything I need." Mitsuki nodded. Katsuki waited for her to leave, but instead she made herself comfortable leaning against an old work bench of Masaru's. Here it comes, he sighed. Katsuki set his drumsticks down to cross his arms. "What did you really come here to ask me?"
"Why didn't you tell us you were dating someone?"
He sneered. "Because I'm not."
Mitsuki rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Please, Katsuki. I've suspected something was going on since Tokyo, Midoriya and Todoroki only confirmed it." Her son's glare deepened at that. "Katsuki, you have a girlfriend," she couldn't help her smile. "That's incredible!"
Katsuki rose to his feet, vermillion eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Would you shitty extras stop calling her that? She's not my girlfriend!"
Mitsuki pushed off the bench to round the drum set. "It's okay to be nervous," she reached to reassure him but he pulled back with a hiss. "Just tell her how you feel and I'm sure she'll say yes-"
The teen scoffed. "It's not about feelings. It's the damn title I can't stand." She blinked at him in silence, stunned.
"Title?"
"Girlfriend," he cringed, his cheeks gaining a rosy hue under her amused eye. "I hate that word. It's just a stupid placeholder until you're ready for something more anyway, so why even bother? It's shitty and basic and that's not me." It's not us, he thought.
"Well, then tell me this: are you two exclusive or free to see other people?"
"Why the hell would we want to waste time on a couple of extras?" He scoffed. She arched her brow, lips puckered. "Exclusive obviously," he mumbled.
"Then what would you call it?" His mother pressed softly. "If you like this girl and you want to be with her, then she obviously has to mean something to you." If it was just a crush or a passing fad, she'd be disappointed but she'd also understand. Her son was quite inexperienced in the romance department and he would need help navigating these new emotions as he was only used to experiencing two or three at a time. He was new to dating and naive to how women worked.
Katsuki puffed his cheeks in annoyance, turning his head to the left as he blushed angrily. "She's my future," he admitted with a shrug. His palms crackled out of nervousness inside his sweatpants pockets. It sounded like pop rocks going off.
Mitsuki gasped softly, moved by how easily he'd confessed. Her son never did things that were easy or simple. He didn't half-ass anything, no matter how trivial it may be. Relationships, it appeared, were no different.
They were close once, their personalities and looks as identical as a copy and paste job. She'd felt him drifting away as he got older, putting up walls and boundaries draped in barbed wire. That didn't stop Mitsuki from seeing him and his struggles. She still knew him and identified with him. Katsuki was her baby and always would be, but standing in front of her now was a young man who knew what he wanted and had the means and the drive to get it.
His future. That's how he chose to describe the Sakano girl in his own words. Katsuki wasn't just down bad for a pretty face. He was all in. So as they loaded his overnight bags into the car a few days later, Mitsuki offered him a handmade bento with a bunny wrap around it. Katsuki stared at it silent horror. "Are you trying to make me kill one of these idiots? I can't carry that around!"
"It's not for you," Mitsuki giggled. "It's for Sana. Her favorite-"
"Vegetable tempura," they answered at the same time. Mitsuki smiled, nodding stiffly. She'd been feeling so emotional since her talks with Todoroki and Katsuki. She was just so relieved to hear that things were finally working out for her son. He had friends that would do anything for him, and he was attending his dream school while being mentored by his idol, All Might. Now all that was left to do was to get the girl, but he seemed to have that part covered just fine on his own.
Touya Todoroki/Dabi x GN!Reader (A)
word count: 1,468
tw: mega-angst
summary: After the war, Y/N still clings to what remains of their childhood friend, for better or for worse.
The League of Villains were no more. Those who still believe in what they fought for, have been smited. The grip that Shigaraki Tomura held to the insecurities and loneliness of others is slowly being lifted.
One soul, damaged beyond repair, still miraculously burns with a wavering light. Todoroki Touya. His mind so fuelled with revenge, his deep desire for any eye to look his way - only now he sits blankly in a highly surveyed facility, armed guards stand on either side of his cell. He couldn’t move his body, not even a finger. Only his pupils moved from side to side as large metal pillars have dug themselves permanently into his face and chest. The only thing keeping him alive is this hunk of metal that holds the fibres of his muscle from tearing apart. His own vocal chords had almost been burned to ashes and he can barely feel the flickering flames inside him anymore. It’s just, cold.
On occasion, a particular pro-hero visits him the most. Unlike the political officials who wish to interrogate him, Y/N would just sit opposite the bulletproof glass wall and just, talk. The burnt villain couldn’t respond even if he wanted to. He didn’t care if the supposed hero of the people was taking pity upon him, or taking advantage of his captivity. It was better than being sat opposite his father.
Years ago, the two knew each other, under different names. But even after all those years, after all the turmoil and trauma - they still recognise one another, as if nothing had changed.
As a child, Y/N was one of many pro-hero offspring, bred to inherent their legacies. Touya believed in his pure determination to become the best, to take after his father. Y/N only saw fear. Fear of their own quirk, fear of the world around them, fear of never being enough. Together they were placed in a small knit after-school training group for children of pros. Touya came later in the class, already marked by a few burn scars but his bright smile made others gravitate to the child. Y/N was the outcast of the group. Their parents were well respected enough to have their child accepted into such an exclusive group. But Y/N’s quirk was not something a day-care trainer can help council.
‘Join us Y/N! We’re offta the obstacle course!’ His gappy smile was as kindred as his spirit, with an open hand, the two ran through many joyous memories. Over time, Y/N warmed to the blazing ball of energy. He helped them to feel more adventurous in using their quirk. He helped sow the seed of becoming a hero.
He spoke so highly of his father, a man who burned fear into everyone around him. But when his younger brother showed signs of surpassing him, Touya grew more restless. Y/N knew of his plans to burn so bright it would force his father to notice him. One dazzling dance for his approval. But like all flames, once they burn too bright, they are snuffed out.
Y/N blamed themselves for years, the disappearance of Touya and the fall of the Todoroki name. Once they became a pro-hero and inherited their parent’s legacy, Y/N always felt as if they never deserved their life. It wasn’t the same dream that they shared with Touya. Maybe in another life, if Y/N tried to slow him down, tried to stop him - maybe they’d be his sidekick, kicking villains into jail cells and throwing away the key liked they spoke about together. But that wasn’t in the cards for Y/N - work, save people, smile and look happy. When people look up to you, there is only one path for you. The one most lit. Not a single day went by for Y/N when they didn’t feel like a fraud.
At the sight of the youngest Todoroki blazing through the Sports Festival with his dual quirk, Y/N was reminded of the saddened past of that home. Throughout their hero career, they avoided Endeavour at all costs, never having the confidence to meet him eye to eye. But seeing Shoto flooded them with feelings of pride and joy they hadn’t felt since Touya, and once again, Y/N was enlightened as to why they became a hero in the first place.
Throughout the League of Villains peak activity, Y/N worked closely with the Wing Hero Hawks, uncovering the inner workings of the league and gaining trust amongst those associated with them. That was until they first locked eyes with one another after five years.
Blue flames, unlike any other. Y/N saw alongside Shoto and the man they swore they would never stand side by side with, Endeavour. Right ahead, was the trios undoing. Dabi, who’s flames had charred his skin proclaiming out to the world, he is the devilish child of Endeavour. The eyes of the wondrous boy that filled Y/N’s mind full of dreams, now only bled venom.
Which brings them to the present, after the war, after the destruction, comes a moment of silence. Y/N never fought Dabi at the end, they remained elsewhere but throughout, they clung to the hope that he was redeemable, that he was capable of saving. Heavy metal clung to what remains of his body, his muscle fibres barely holding on fully exposed to the cold open air. His eyes blinking in and out of consciousness, behind walls and walls of security. Despite it all, Y/N was beyond happy to even see him again. Week by week, they’d visit. Keigo was able to pull strings to allow them such limitless access to one of the world’s most dangerous villains left alive. Y/N was beyond grateful to him, having sworn loyalty to his cause within the now reformed Heroes Public Safety Commission.
Y/N would speak to the barely animated corpse of Touya Todoroki until the sunset. They would always be alone, no guards and no guns. Just two old friends. For a few hours a week, it was like they were transported back to their childhood.
‘…and I heard that Deku might become a teacher, says he really looks up to Eraser.’ They give a slight giggle.
‘Parts of me wonder if maybe, that’s what I should do…Sometimes I want to just quit y’know?’ Touya Todoroki might be behind millions of metal and anti-quirk barriers, but they could still see Y/N shiver in fear, same as before.
‘After the war, more things have started to unravel. More people are scared of the real evils in the world, they fear death and they fear loss even more so now. But more people are standing up for others, to stand side by side as a collective. I don’t know where my place is anymore as a hero. Say, Touya…Dabi…Do you remember the time I fell from the monkey bars outside my place?’
He could only shove out a croaking groan. Y/N smiled.
‘You won’t stop laughing, calling me too weak to even hold myself up. But, you still helped me up. Said you’d carry the weight I can’t because we’re a team.’ Eyes locked and the two felt the cold, metal air between them shift.
‘I wanted that so bad. Still do. If you’re still in there, you think we could maybe? Be a team again.’
Silence.
Hours could have passed, neither of them would have known. A light knock interrupted their bubble.
‘I guess I’ll go now…I’ll leave you alone from now on Touya.’
It was as if the ground had been dropped from his feet, he felt his chest ache, whatever remnants of his heart sunk into a pit he wished to dig out. As their back walked further and further away from him, he mustered as much strength he could in his shrivelled body, ever essence of being clinging to this desperate feeling of being seen. He didn’t care for the burning feeling in throat, it was far from the pain he felt throughout his whole life.
‘Don’t…go.’
Tears flooded their eyes, the first words from the man they saw as their origin. Y/N swung around so fast, one could’ve caused vertigo. Heartache, loneliness, desire - everything felt within an instant from those two words mustered out of pure desperation. How could Y/N say no. For months, what was once believed to just be a shell of a human, Y/N finally sees that behind the barriers was still the wondrous boy who only wanted to be seen, to never be alone.
